Enjoy!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Second Set of Futurist Posters
Here are some more illustrator practices. I've been sick in bed for all of yesterday and some of today, so there's no excuse for me not having them done :P
I really don't have a theme for these. I just really like flowers.
I really don't have a theme for these. I just really like flowers.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Entschuldigen Sie, parlez-vous l'inglese?
Last weekend I took a trip to Geneva, Switzerland and Munich, Germany. The trip was exhausting, but totally worth it. I left for Geneva on Thursday, and arrived at 4 in the morning. The next day we toured the UN headquarters and walked around Geneva a little. The lake was gorgeous and the UN headquarters was very interesting (the bitchy girls who were bored and wouldn't stop talking detracted from the visit however). After that, we toured a chocolate factory. I actually didn't get any chocolate because you can actually by this chocolate in the states. I'm going on a mission to Belgium later to get more chocolate.
After visiting Geneva, we went to Fribourg which was also beautiful. We ate dinner, and visited the historic quarter of the city. Unfortunately I forgot my camera, but it was dark, so they probably wouldn't have come out anyway. What I found interesting was that they spoke French in this area of Switzerland. As it turns out, there are 4 national languages in Switzerland. I studied a little German before I came thinking that I'd be able to at least ask for directions, but I barely know a word of French and I forgot the German that I studied anyway.
We left for the Alps the next day, and took a gondola to the top of the mountain (again, bitchy girls complaining about how there was only one gondola, and how it was not as 'technologically advanced' as Colorado ski resorts, once again detracted from the gondola experience. Luckily I abandoned them in the mountains and enjoyed my time there in peace).
Anyway, the mountains were incredible and we ate a delicious meal on the top of the mountain. I also tried some delicious, but a little girly, beer in the warming hut at the top of the mountain. We left for Munich that afternoon and arrived there around 9.
I spent the day in Munich at Oktoberfest, so I didn't get to see much of the city. Oktoberfest was a blast, and I met a lot of interesting people. I really wanted to get a hat, but I think that I'll hold out until I go to Poland and get one there.
My next adventure is to Pisa, Siena, or Lucca this weekend. The trains are not that expensive, and Pisa is really close to the coast, so that will be nice. I'm not sure if I'll make it day trips, or if I'll find a hostel there. After that I'm planning on going to Cinque Terre, and Venice for the art biannual. Further in the future is my week long trip to Morocco, which should be the trip of a lifetime. I've also booked tickets to Amsterdam, but I have to work out the details about hostels and such. I have a very busy semester, but it's going to be awesome
After visiting Geneva, we went to Fribourg which was also beautiful. We ate dinner, and visited the historic quarter of the city. Unfortunately I forgot my camera, but it was dark, so they probably wouldn't have come out anyway. What I found interesting was that they spoke French in this area of Switzerland. As it turns out, there are 4 national languages in Switzerland. I studied a little German before I came thinking that I'd be able to at least ask for directions, but I barely know a word of French and I forgot the German that I studied anyway.
We left for the Alps the next day, and took a gondola to the top of the mountain (again, bitchy girls complaining about how there was only one gondola, and how it was not as 'technologically advanced' as Colorado ski resorts, once again detracted from the gondola experience. Luckily I abandoned them in the mountains and enjoyed my time there in peace).
Anyway, the mountains were incredible and we ate a delicious meal on the top of the mountain. I also tried some delicious, but a little girly, beer in the warming hut at the top of the mountain. We left for Munich that afternoon and arrived there around 9.
I spent the day in Munich at Oktoberfest, so I didn't get to see much of the city. Oktoberfest was a blast, and I met a lot of interesting people. I really wanted to get a hat, but I think that I'll hold out until I go to Poland and get one there.
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| UN conference room |
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| UN building courtyard |
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| Shack at the top of the mountain |
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| Me hanging over a precipice |
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| A little church on the top of the mountain |
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| FEAST!!! |
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| Sketchy corner of Fribourg |
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| Oktoberfest |
My next adventure is to Pisa, Siena, or Lucca this weekend. The trains are not that expensive, and Pisa is really close to the coast, so that will be nice. I'm not sure if I'll make it day trips, or if I'll find a hostel there. After that I'm planning on going to Cinque Terre, and Venice for the art biannual. Further in the future is my week long trip to Morocco, which should be the trip of a lifetime. I've also booked tickets to Amsterdam, but I have to work out the details about hostels and such. I have a very busy semester, but it's going to be awesome
Monday, September 26, 2011
Still Playing Around in Illustrator
I'm playing around in Illustrator some more as part of my illustration class. Here is the first series of Futurist posters that I made. I theme that I cam up with was a city in different seasons. I kind of like it so far, but it's still just me playing around with illustrator.
Ciao!
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| Winter |
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| Spring |
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| Summer |
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| Fall |
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Reaction to 'Understanding Comics'
I enjoyed the reading, not only because I love comic books and graphic novels, but because the ideas that the author discussed could be applied to graphic design in addition to cartooning or comics. Simplifying an icon to the point where it becomes universal seems to me to be a very important concept in graphic design. I think that finding the most simple, abstracted, universal icon and designing it to fit your uses (graphic design, cartooning, etc.) helps greatly in communicating information effectively. When an icon is more universal, it relates to a larger audience, or communicates and idea more effectively.
This is something that is hard for me to do because I over complicate things all the time whether it's drawing cartoons or other things unrelated to art. Also, I'm just really bad at drawing cartoons. I make things too specific myself to the point where it is hard for other people to understand. In order to become an effective illustrator, I have to break this. I think that the reading has helped me to understand better, the concept of simplifying images to make them universal.
The author also talks about how words and art has to work together for it to be effective, another concept that applies to graphic design in addition to comics.
I liked how the author showed that even though an object or icon can be abstracted almost beyond recognition, people can still relate to it.
Overall, I think that the reading was helpful in clearly explaining and illustrating these concepts which are very helpful to a graphic artist.
This is something that is hard for me to do because I over complicate things all the time whether it's drawing cartoons or other things unrelated to art. Also, I'm just really bad at drawing cartoons. I make things too specific myself to the point where it is hard for other people to understand. In order to become an effective illustrator, I have to break this. I think that the reading has helped me to understand better, the concept of simplifying images to make them universal.
The author also talks about how words and art has to work together for it to be effective, another concept that applies to graphic design in addition to comics.
I liked how the author showed that even though an object or icon can be abstracted almost beyond recognition, people can still relate to it.
Overall, I think that the reading was helpful in clearly explaining and illustrating these concepts which are very helpful to a graphic artist.
Last Weekends Trip
Last weekend I went to Maremma in Tuscany. The countryside and the coast was gorgeous and I was able to spend a lot of time at the beach.
It's finally gotten cooler so not I can wear most of the clothes that I brought. My next weekend trip is to Switzerland and Munich for Octoberfest!
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| The beautiful coast. |
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| A medieval fort. |
It's finally gotten cooler so not I can wear most of the clothes that I brought. My next weekend trip is to Switzerland and Munich for Octoberfest!
More Practice in Illustrator
Here are some flower designs I made in Illustrator for my Digital Graphic Illustration class. I've learned a lot of shortcuts which is great, I think I'm gonna play around with it more.
They're kind of fun :)
They're kind of fun :)
Monday, September 19, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
More Homework!
As part of my digital illustration class, we took a trip to the Salvatore Ferragamo museum in Florence to view the exhibit. It was a very interesting experience. Shoes as art.
In the exhibit, it showed not only his creations, but exhibited art and artifacts that influenced his designs. It was also pointed out that because he was working in post war Italy, some materials, like leather, were very expensive and difficult to come by because the country was very poor at that time. Because of this problem, Ferragamo had to invent other ways of using more available materials to make his shoes. These materials included kid skin, fish skin, cork, canvas, and raffia. Another thing that I learned was that Ferragamo also invented the stiletto heel.
What interested me about this was how the time in history that Ferragamo was working in influenced his art. How he was working during and after WWII which influenced him to be innovative with his materials. How Futurist art influenced the patterns that he created on his shoes.
One item that I found very interesting was a screen printed scarf which was the first scarf ever made which was meant to be a fashion accessory rather than a practical item.
Another part of the exhibit that I found interesting was a room where examples of Ferragamo's shoes were placed next to historical items which influenced his designs. It is interesting to see how an artist is influenced by their surroundings to create unique pieces of art and how it affects their thought processes while designing their art.
I also want to mention the Futurist films that were on display also. I liked how there was stop motion animation and color used in the film, which was a huge innovation at the time, but a lot of the films I found were really odd and actually made me a little dizzy (which is not hard to do because I have a really weak stomach). I thought that they used color and music in a fun and innovative way to animate an idea or feeling, and I really like stop motion animation.
Overall an inspiring and very fascinating trip.
Ciao!
In the exhibit, it showed not only his creations, but exhibited art and artifacts that influenced his designs. It was also pointed out that because he was working in post war Italy, some materials, like leather, were very expensive and difficult to come by because the country was very poor at that time. Because of this problem, Ferragamo had to invent other ways of using more available materials to make his shoes. These materials included kid skin, fish skin, cork, canvas, and raffia. Another thing that I learned was that Ferragamo also invented the stiletto heel.
What interested me about this was how the time in history that Ferragamo was working in influenced his art. How he was working during and after WWII which influenced him to be innovative with his materials. How Futurist art influenced the patterns that he created on his shoes.
One item that I found very interesting was a screen printed scarf which was the first scarf ever made which was meant to be a fashion accessory rather than a practical item.
Another part of the exhibit that I found interesting was a room where examples of Ferragamo's shoes were placed next to historical items which influenced his designs. It is interesting to see how an artist is influenced by their surroundings to create unique pieces of art and how it affects their thought processes while designing their art.
I also want to mention the Futurist films that were on display also. I liked how there was stop motion animation and color used in the film, which was a huge innovation at the time, but a lot of the films I found were really odd and actually made me a little dizzy (which is not hard to do because I have a really weak stomach). I thought that they used color and music in a fun and innovative way to animate an idea or feeling, and I really like stop motion animation.
Overall an inspiring and very fascinating trip.
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| 10 sketches from the museum. |
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| A handout so I can find this place again. |
Some of my favorite images of the Boboli Gardens!
Enjoy!
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| Mouna wandering through the gardens |
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| Interesting texture on an interesting door |
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| More texture! |
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| At the top of the hill I found a large stone head |
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| Another fantastic view of the city! |
Monday, September 12, 2011
Digital Illustration Homework: Finally Finished!! ...For Now
So I was freaking out about posting my homework on time yesterday for nothing for two reasons: One, I get a pass\fail for this class, so if I bomb the first assignment, it's not the end of the world. And two, It is due next Sunday.
So here is the rest of the homework that I was supposed to have posted:
And to be thorough, here is a collage of my experience at the Boboli gardens yesterday!
I got lost for about 5 hours, and then discovered that my ticket covered several other museums/galleries in Palazzo Pitti which I also visited. It was a great experience to say the least, and I definitely want to go back, just when it's not so hot out :P
Because the file for the collage is so large, my next post will include some of my favorite images!
So here is the rest of the homework that I was supposed to have posted:
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| 100 circles |
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| 100 squares |
And to be thorough, here is a collage of my experience at the Boboli gardens yesterday!
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| It was a little overwhelming. |
Because the file for the collage is so large, my next post will include some of my favorite images!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Procrastination
So a half hour before the stated due date, I'm posting my homework. My room mate has graciously allowed me to borrow her internet.
Anyway. Some last observations regarding my first week and a half in Florence.
Living here for me has not been a very hard adjustment yet. Maybe it will gett more difficult later, idk. I find that it is difficult to find a quiet space for reflection or peace. A space that I did find that I liked very much and was the church and the cemetery at San Miniato al Monte. I have posted pictures and a sketch above, but I wanna write more about it because I like it. I spent some time in the church writing down my observations and I got lost in the cemetery.
First, there was one smaller church which was very plainly decorated. Very mediaeval looking. I liked it very much. It was very peaceful. From there I traveled farther up the hill and found a larger, more decorated church, also a mediaeval building. As I entered I immediately noticed that there were mostly intact frescoes on the walls (depicting saints, the Crucifixion, and the Virgin Mary) and that the ceiling was wood, rather than stone vaults, which was common in mediaeval Italian architecture. Both the inside and the north facade are decorated with a geometric pattern using green and white stone. The facade also incorporated a mosaic towards the top. This is also often seen in Italian gothic architecture because it is a better climate for mosaics (I think? Trying to remember what I learned in art history last year). I also noticed that the vaulted ceilings were decorated in a geometric pattern with abstract floral and animal designs. I noticed that the right hand aisle ceiling was plain and lacked the decoration of the other vaults.
There is a little chapel to the right, probably dedicated to a specific saint. There is an alter in front of the raised choir which is surrounded by a small arched structure to house the alter. It has a honeycomb pattern of raised stonework on the underside of the vault (barrel vault?) with little rosettes in each box. There are two small statues of eagles on the top of the arch. I noticed that the image of an eagle was used frequently in the decoration of the church.
I proceded under the raised choir to the crypt, which I noticed had gothic additions (vaults and a gothic screen in front of another alter). The vaults had frescoes of saints on them. I think that this was a gothic addition to the romanesque structure of the church because there were large stone pillars which supported the building, with the vaults (plaster covered stone?) built around them.
When I entered the main part of the building I recognized it as an originally romanesque structure because of the wooden ceiling and the small roman style arched windows.
When I got to the raised choir, I noticed another altar to the back of the choir. There are gothic style pews in the choir (original? they smelled really old). To the right of the choir, there is another, larger chapel, which was probably another later addition. There are gorgeous frescoes inside with more gothic style pews and a gothic arched window with stained glass.
It was at this point that the chapel became overrun with French tourists and I had to leave.
My conclusions were that the church was originally constructed as a romanesque building and added unto in later times, probably with little additions over the course of many years. The different parts of the church blend well together because the different designers of the church used the same motifs and decoration in designing the additions. I like how the romanesque ceiling was preserved. I think that it is more common to see the wood ceilings preserved in Italy because designers held unto the more Roman traditions in building (basilican style buildings, Roman arches and the wood ceilings). The abstract animal and floral design of the ceiling also reminded me of the preserved romanesque ceiling of Peterborough Cathedral in England which also retains the romanesque wooden ceiling, while blending romanesque and gothic features on other parts of the church.
SO. After my little art history diversion, I have to write a reaction to the assigned reading (The Founding and Manifesto of Futurism). I have mixed feelings about the reading. While I think that it is a great thing to move forward and create totally new ideas based on our reactions to the present, it is an equally good thing to respect and learn from the past. Without knowledge of the past, we can't learn from our mistakes and failures and we can't build on new ideas. I understand that Futurism was a reaction to the passive study and imitation of the old and the traditional, but that does not mean that it is worthless. I think that focusing on contemporary problems using new ways of thinking while also understanding the perspectives of the past is probably the most open minded and effective way of solving a problem.
How did people before me solve problems? How/why did they fail? What can I do in this contemporary context to build off the discoveries of others? I think that these are very valid questions which the author of the reading seems to disregard because they involve the study and understanding of the past. Also I felt that the reading had strong nationalist undertones. While being proud of your country and heritage is great, I think that through past failings, we can see that too much can be a very dangerous thing (take Germany a couple years after this was written).
So basically my feeling is that building of older ideas and understanding them, not passively imitating is a productive way to solve problems. Progress for pregress' sake is not necessarily good or productive. A respect and understanding of the past and also using completely new and radical ideas to solve contemporary problems, I think, is the best way to go about problem solving.
That was my little rant.
Anyway. Awesome week and a half in Firenze so far. More stuff to come.
Anyway. Some last observations regarding my first week and a half in Florence.
Living here for me has not been a very hard adjustment yet. Maybe it will gett more difficult later, idk. I find that it is difficult to find a quiet space for reflection or peace. A space that I did find that I liked very much and was the church and the cemetery at San Miniato al Monte. I have posted pictures and a sketch above, but I wanna write more about it because I like it. I spent some time in the church writing down my observations and I got lost in the cemetery.
First, there was one smaller church which was very plainly decorated. Very mediaeval looking. I liked it very much. It was very peaceful. From there I traveled farther up the hill and found a larger, more decorated church, also a mediaeval building. As I entered I immediately noticed that there were mostly intact frescoes on the walls (depicting saints, the Crucifixion, and the Virgin Mary) and that the ceiling was wood, rather than stone vaults, which was common in mediaeval Italian architecture. Both the inside and the north facade are decorated with a geometric pattern using green and white stone. The facade also incorporated a mosaic towards the top. This is also often seen in Italian gothic architecture because it is a better climate for mosaics (I think? Trying to remember what I learned in art history last year). I also noticed that the vaulted ceilings were decorated in a geometric pattern with abstract floral and animal designs. I noticed that the right hand aisle ceiling was plain and lacked the decoration of the other vaults.
There is a little chapel to the right, probably dedicated to a specific saint. There is an alter in front of the raised choir which is surrounded by a small arched structure to house the alter. It has a honeycomb pattern of raised stonework on the underside of the vault (barrel vault?) with little rosettes in each box. There are two small statues of eagles on the top of the arch. I noticed that the image of an eagle was used frequently in the decoration of the church.
I proceded under the raised choir to the crypt, which I noticed had gothic additions (vaults and a gothic screen in front of another alter). The vaults had frescoes of saints on them. I think that this was a gothic addition to the romanesque structure of the church because there were large stone pillars which supported the building, with the vaults (plaster covered stone?) built around them.
When I entered the main part of the building I recognized it as an originally romanesque structure because of the wooden ceiling and the small roman style arched windows.
When I got to the raised choir, I noticed another altar to the back of the choir. There are gothic style pews in the choir (original? they smelled really old). To the right of the choir, there is another, larger chapel, which was probably another later addition. There are gorgeous frescoes inside with more gothic style pews and a gothic arched window with stained glass.
It was at this point that the chapel became overrun with French tourists and I had to leave.
My conclusions were that the church was originally constructed as a romanesque building and added unto in later times, probably with little additions over the course of many years. The different parts of the church blend well together because the different designers of the church used the same motifs and decoration in designing the additions. I like how the romanesque ceiling was preserved. I think that it is more common to see the wood ceilings preserved in Italy because designers held unto the more Roman traditions in building (basilican style buildings, Roman arches and the wood ceilings). The abstract animal and floral design of the ceiling also reminded me of the preserved romanesque ceiling of Peterborough Cathedral in England which also retains the romanesque wooden ceiling, while blending romanesque and gothic features on other parts of the church.
SO. After my little art history diversion, I have to write a reaction to the assigned reading (The Founding and Manifesto of Futurism). I have mixed feelings about the reading. While I think that it is a great thing to move forward and create totally new ideas based on our reactions to the present, it is an equally good thing to respect and learn from the past. Without knowledge of the past, we can't learn from our mistakes and failures and we can't build on new ideas. I understand that Futurism was a reaction to the passive study and imitation of the old and the traditional, but that does not mean that it is worthless. I think that focusing on contemporary problems using new ways of thinking while also understanding the perspectives of the past is probably the most open minded and effective way of solving a problem.
How did people before me solve problems? How/why did they fail? What can I do in this contemporary context to build off the discoveries of others? I think that these are very valid questions which the author of the reading seems to disregard because they involve the study and understanding of the past. Also I felt that the reading had strong nationalist undertones. While being proud of your country and heritage is great, I think that through past failings, we can see that too much can be a very dangerous thing (take Germany a couple years after this was written).
So basically my feeling is that building of older ideas and understanding them, not passively imitating is a productive way to solve problems. Progress for pregress' sake is not necessarily good or productive. A respect and understanding of the past and also using completely new and radical ideas to solve contemporary problems, I think, is the best way to go about problem solving.
That was my little rant.
Anyway. Awesome week and a half in Firenze so far. More stuff to come.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Week I Part III
OK. Finally I have found a place where I probably wont get kicked out of the lab. Because I am writing this at a reasonable time of day.
Yesterday I went on a 'mini cruise' on the coast near Rome (but still in Tuscany). It was great, except I get seasick... So the islands were nice (we visited 2) and I got a lot of sleep on the boat. My friends and I explored the islands and went swimming in the ocean. The water was amazing! The islands were beautiful. I took a nap under a boat on the beach (in order to set myself right after seasickness) at the first island, and then explored the island. We went swimming at the second island. Here are some pictures from the first island:
Overall, a very fun trip:)
Still working on my illustration homework so... Here are two more of my 10 ethnographic studies:
Yesterday I went on a 'mini cruise' on the coast near Rome (but still in Tuscany). It was great, except I get seasick... So the islands were nice (we visited 2) and I got a lot of sleep on the boat. My friends and I explored the islands and went swimming in the ocean. The water was amazing! The islands were beautiful. I took a nap under a boat on the beach (in order to set myself right after seasickness) at the first island, and then explored the island. We went swimming at the second island. Here are some pictures from the first island:
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| My naptime spot under the boat. |
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| I'm on a boat!! |
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| The inlet in the first island where we parked the boat. |
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| Still the first island |
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| We were very excited to find this lighthouse on the second island. |
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| The wall we may or may not have been allowed to walk on. |
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| The second island. |
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| Second island. |
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| Graffiti. |
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| Pretty flowers on the island. |
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| A really big boat. |
Still working on my illustration homework so... Here are two more of my 10 ethnographic studies:
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| I doodled the tv antennae and pipes on the roof near my terrace. |
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| Sketchbook doodle of view from Piazzale Michelangelo. |
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